I have some 4x5 Tmax 400 negatives to develop. I have heard that there is a way to use Kodak Tmax developer as a "one shot" developer. It goes something like putting the contents of the foil envelope into one of the solutions and then mixing with water according to a dilution formula. Does anybody have the "recipe?"

To answer my own question, I did a Google and found this on the Large Format Forum web site:

So next time I want to do like John Sexton does and mix part B into the part A bottle and leave that as my stock. Then when I'm ready to develop I mix 1:4 with water and that is my working solution. After I'm finished I discard. Is this correct? How many negatives can I run through one batch? Thanks alot for all your help!



--brian, 2005-01-23 11:38:45

 


Yes Brian, that is correct. Use this composite A&B as your stock to be mixed. You might also try 1:9 to get some additional mileage out of your developer. Development times are longer, but still great results. Sexton uses this dilution as well. I do not know the exact unit of film per developer ratios from Kodak, but it is not important. Fill your developing tank and make one run with it (how many hangers you can get in one tank is "one" run). Dump it and use fresh developer for the next.

Good Luck!



--Michael Kadillak, 2005-01-23 14:14:04

 


Michael, so if I mix 1:9 then my develop times are twice as long as 1:4 correct? Thanks



--brian, 2005-01-23 21:07:00

 


Not necessarily. Go to the Kodak website and look at their recommended starting times and temps for this dilution and start from there. Modify as necessary after you inspect your results.

Shadows are dictated by exposure, but should contain detail (unless you are purposefully taking it out). Highlights are driven by development time.

Cheers!



--Michael Kadillak, 2005-01-24 05:43:22

DO NOT over look the minimun developer requirement, you will have under-developed film if you use less. The Data sheet for the developer will tell you how much to use per 80 square inches, 1-36 exposure 35mm; 1-120 roll, 4-4x5 sheets. Base amount of developer to use is: Number of sheets in terms of 80 sq. in. x min.dev. requirement + water to achieve desired dilution=total volume, not to exceed processing tank capicaty.

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<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: 45PSS on 2005-04-07 22:21 ]</font>

I'll check the developer requirement the next time I do a batch with Tmax. I have an ancient Yankee 12 sheet tank from the '50s that requires 55 oz of solution to cover 4 x 5. I've used it successfully and often, but admittedly mostly with the now-discontinued DK-50 developer. I can see that if you dilute a developer too much, you'd end up exhausting the developer before your development is finished.

I guess the underlying idea behind more developer dilution is that dilute solutions continue to work in the shadow areas, while the highlights exhaust the nearby developer between agitations. This increases shadow detail.

Anybody remember Super Panchro Press, Type B?

About 10 years ago I saw an identical Yankee film tank in a camera store in the DC area. Maybe those tanks are still made.

Joe